7th March 2024

Investigations

LV noncompaction is a diagnosis made via imaging techniques, most commonly echocardiography and often followed up with MRI. There are different diagnostic criteria, but a commonly used one includes the following:

• A two layered myocardium in which the non-compacted layer is thicker than the compacted myocardium
• >3 prominent trabeculations protruding from the LV wall, apical to the papillary muscles
• Perfused intertrabecular space

Cardiac MR gives improved tissue resolution in comparison to Echo and can better differentiate between compacted and non-compacted myocardium and it is often used to help make the diagnosis when good echo images are not achievable.